Who Knows How To Get Your Dog Certified As A Therapy/Service Dog?
 

I am curious as to how you go about getting your dog certified as a therapy or service dog? I am interested in taking my yorkie to some classes that will certify her. I see alot of things online, but I don't know if these are legitimate because all you have to do is pay the money and they will send the card and special jacket for the dog to wear.

Bump.

I'd like to know, too. All the places I've looked at online seem to be the canine equivalent of diploma mills.

Exactly! I want to get my little yorkie, Rosie, certified. But I want to do it the right way.

Interesting topic. I would like to know too.

There is a school here that offers it. I go to the school for my conformation classes. They also do levels of obedience for the AKC title, Agility, and dog pulling.
So if you find a reputable dog school they should offer it...
This is the school mine goes to so you can see what a reputable school offers..http://www.finishforwarddogs.com/class_schedule

TDI is a program, I believe, who certifies dogs to be therapy dogs. They have to go through a variety of tests, including accepting a friendly stranger, being brushed/pet, 3 minute stay's, etc. It's very similar to the CGC (Canine Good Citizen test). A service dog and a therapy dog are two totally different things though. Therapy dogs go into hospitals and visit sick patients, etc. A service animal helps a disabled (mental or physical) person throughout the day whether it be helping ease anxiety attacks, alerting seizures, picking up shoes, keys, and things.

:thumbup:

Levi and I are working on his CGC and TDI certifications. The next TDI test in our area is on November 8/9, but I'm not sure we're quite ready yet.

I'm aiming to get Jackson's CGC by February hopefully. He's been making me sooo proud lately with his willingness to go up to strangers and allow a petting, etc, so I think we're almost ready. There's an intermediate obedience class being offered where his agility classes are in January and I may do it, since it ends with the CGC test and I think the class would fully prepare him. Let me know how it goes with Levi. :)

Jackson is not really therapy dog material, he doesn't really enjoy being in peoples laps or being pet or held, etc. So I know therapy work is most likely not in our future but I may have him take the test eventually anyways just to have it. I know it's pretty similar to the CGC so if he can pass that, I think he could pass the TDT.

The TDI test is almost identical to the CGC; there is just one additional task and it is along the same basic lines. I think Levi would be an awesome therapy dog, and I'd love to be able to take him to nursing homes, schools, etc. He's been on a couple of visits to see my grandmother in the nursing home and hospital, and he's done wonderfully. He doesn't really like to sit still, but he does like any attention that he receives from people. Anyway, I'm nervous about the grooming task. We'll see. I don't know that I'll register him for the November test, but I'd love to go watch other dogs being tested. Not sure if that's even allowed.

I'm glad that Jackson is becoming more willing with strangers! That is awesome. I'm sure he will do well! He seems so trainable, so it's evident you've been working hard with him. :)

I have looked into this for a few people. You have Service dogs which help people,including yourself. Therapy dogs are for nursing homes, hospitals ect. and need to pass testing. There is a certifacaton you can get also and that is a campanion dog which means that dog is your companion and you need the animal with you. a doctors note on a rx slip needs to be filled out by your dr or vet. then the last one is a emotional support dog. a note from a therapist or Dr. on a Rx slip stating that the dog needs to be with you because you have a hard time fuctioning with out the dog. That is all you will need to take the dog with you including stores, airlines, to ride on your lap in the plane. It is also needed, to be able to have the dog to be able to stay in hotels and housing that do not allow pets.I have a few people that I have helped get these certifacations and they are allowed. The one lady takes her dog every place she goes including the grocery store. and an handicapped man got his RX from his Dr and the next week he flew on a plane with no questions asked at all, in either direction. All he had to do is call the airline ahead of time to let them know.You can purchase a vest for your dog but as long as you have your rx you do not need the vest. if you feel better about people asking questions then I told both of the people to just get the vest and be done with it.The only thing that I did read was if your planning on taking your dog into a resturant with you that you should have a dog bed to put on the floor so the dog can lay on the bed on the floor quietly.Hope this helps

There is a big difference between service animals and therapy/emotional support animals. Service animals are trained to perform a specific task for persons with disabilities. (seeing eye dogs, seizure assistance dogs, etc) Therapy/emotional support animals offer just that--emotional support. The laws that provide for service animals in regards to being admitted into public establishments do not always extend to therapy/support animals.

Here is a good link about the difference between the two:
http://www.nsarco.com/difference.html

Oops, somehow got booted before I finished my post. :(

Here is another link that describes in more detail the differences in 'rights' regarding public establishments the two have:
Frequently Asked Questions - Emotional Support Animals | Service Dog Central

When i started working in the nursing home i got Gatsby certified as a therapy dog in my area they only need the cgc to be allowed in nursing homes so that is all Gatsby has but non the less we did the training and test at petsmart

Thanks for all the usefull information! I would love to be able to bring Rosie into nursing homes to raise the spirits of the residents. I didn't realize that Petsmart offered the dog training classes....I will have to look into that. Does anyone know if the same laws apply for riding on an airplane for a therapy dog vs. a service dog? :aimeeyork

This link, posted above, answers all:
Frequently Asked Questions - Emotional Support Animals | Service Dog Central

No, a therapy dog has NO more rights than a regular pet, other than the fact that they can go into hospitals and nursing homes, however that cannot be unannounced. You can't just walk into a hospital with your therapy dog and be accepted in. It has to be a scheduled visit, etc. And no, they're not allowed on an airplane with you (unless of course you are paying for them and they have to stay under your seat, etc).

A service dog is something totally different. They are trained for often 1-2 years before going home to help a disabled person. An emotional support dog is different to... the only rights they have that regular pets do not are the fact that they ARE allowed in buildings, apartments, etc that typically have a 'no dogs' policy. They are also allowed on a plane and I believe it does not cost you anything, and they do not have to be under the seat.